About New York

New York is an attractive and surprising city, a cultural melting pot with hundreds of theatres, a large number of diners and Wall Street, the financial centre of the USA.

The most important sights of New York include the Empire State Building, which is one of many skyscrapers that dominate the city’s skyline. The crown of the Statue of Liberty also affords a magnificent view of the city.

A trip across Brooklyn Bridge is certainly an attraction. This bridge was the first steel suspension bridge ever to be built. At the time of its opening in 1883, it was also the longest bridge in the world, with a length of 470 metres. You can relax in Central Park, which is the most famous park in New York City and the entire world. It covers an area of 430 hectares in the middle of Manhattan.

New York Brunch Spots

No city does brunch quite like New York, and there are so many amazing spots all around town for a great Sunday brunch. Here are five favourites to put on your must do list!

Our suggestions:

SLEEP There’s something every tourist wants from New York: Art Deco furnishings, gilded cornering, Mad Men furniture and a sense that the city never really left the glory days of the 1930s. The Archer Hotel New York (45 West 38th Street, archerhotel) is more than willing to accommodate you.
EAT Peter Luger (178 Broadway, www.peterluger.com) is so good it turned up in The Sopranos. Opened in 1887, it has built a reputation for serving the city’s best steaks – the owner boasting that he gets first pick at New York’s meat markets.
LATER The Bell House (49 7th Street, www.thebellhouseny.com) has been manufacturing good times for as long as anybody can remember. Formerly a sweater factory, it now plays host to the city’s best bands and puts together brilliant theme nights.
ACTIVITIES

Comic-book nirvana exists and its name is Midtown Comics (200 West 40th Street). We’re talking aisles and aisles of web slinging, hulking smashing, supermanning and avenging.

New York is best explored with a local – somebody who knows the streets, the history, and the best place to grab a hotdog at 2am. Bike the Big Apple (www.bikethebigapple.com) does exactly what it says on the tin, offering bicycle tours through the most famous neighbourhoods with an enthusiastic local guide.

PRACTICAL INFO

Taxis into the city take from 30 to 60 minutes. They cost $45/€40 flat fare to Manhattan, not including bridge tolls and tip, and are cash only. It’s polite to tip at least a dollar per bag if the taxi driver assists you.

The NYC Airporter Bus departs roughly every 30 minutes for the Bus Terminal, Grand Central Station and Penn Station. The fare is $13/€12.

The New York City subways and buses run to and from JFK International Airport for $2/€1.70.

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)

All eligible international travellers who wish to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization. If you are planning to transit in the USA or intend to stopover on the way to your destination, you will still need to apply for an ESTA.